Method for forming anti-reflective coating

ABSTRACT

A method of forming an antireflective coating on an electronic device comprising (A) applying to an electronic device an ARC composition comprising (i) a silsesquioxane resin having the formula (PhSiO (3-X)/2 (OH) x)m HSiO (3-x)/2 (OH) x)N (MeSiO (3-x)/2 (OH) x)p  where Ph is a phenyl group, Me is a methyl group, x has a value of 0, 1 or 2; m has a value of 0.05 to 0.95, n has a value of 0.05 to 0.95, p has a value of 0.05 to 0.95, and m+n+p≈1; and (ii) a solvent; and (B) removing the solvent and curing the silsesquioxane resin to form an antireflective coating on the electronic device.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/666,822, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,025,927 filed on May 1, 2007 and claims priority thereto under 35 U.S.C. §120 and 35 U.S.C. §365(c). U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/666,822 is hereby incorporated by reference.

With the continuing demand for smaller feature sizes in the semiconductor industry, 193 nm optical lithography has emerged very recently as the technology to produce devices with sub-100 nm. The use of such shorter wavelength of light requires the bottom antireflective coating (BARC) to reduce the reflection on the substrate and dampen the photoresist swing cure by absorbing light that has been passed through the photoresist. Commercially available antireflective coatings (ARC) consist of both organic and inorganic materials. Typically, the inorganic ARC, which exhibit good etch resistant, is CVD based and is subject to all of the integration disadvantage of extreme topography. The organic ARC materials are applied by spin-on process and have excellent fill and planarization properties, but suffer from poor etch selectivity to organic photoresist. As a result, a material that offers the combined advantages of inorganic and organic ARC materials is highly desired.

This invention pertains to silsesquioxane resins that exhibit antireflective coating properties for 193 nm light. These antireflective coatings can be stripped at the removal stage and the silsesquioxane resins are stable upon storage. In addition, the presence of a hydride group in the silsesquioxane resin is essential for the desired cure properties and strip-ability as a 193 nm ARC material.

In particular this invention pertains to a method of forming an antireflective coating on an electronic device comprising

(A) applying to an electronic device an ARC composition comprising

(i) a silsesquioxane resin having the formula (PhSiO_((3-x)/2)(OH)_(x))_(m)HSiO_((3-x)/2)(OH)_(x))_(n)(MeSiO_((3-x)/2)(OH)_(x))_(p)

where Ph is a phenyl group, Me is a methyl group, x has a value of 0, 1 or 2; m has a value of 0.05 to 0.95, n has a value of 0.05 to 0.95, p has a value of 0.05 to 0.95, and m+n+p≈1; and

(ii) a solvent; and

(B) removing the solvent and curing the silsesquioxane resin to form an antireflective coating on the electronic device.

The silsesquioxane resins (i) useful in forming the antireflective coating have the formula (PhSiO_((3-x)/2)(OH)_(x))_(m)HSiO_((3-x)/2)(OH)_(x))_(n)(MeSiO_((3-x)/2)(OH)_(x))_(p) where Ph is a phenyl group, Me is a methyl group, x has a value of 0, 1 or 2; m has a value of 0.05 to 0.95, n has a value of 0.05 to 0.95, p has a value of 0.05 to 0.95, and m+n+p 1. Alternatively m has a value of 0.05 to 0.50, n has a value of 0.10 to 0.70 and p has a value of 0.10 to 0.70.

The silsesquioxane resin may be essentially fully condensed or may be only partially condensed. When the silsesquioxane resin is partially condensed less than 40 mole % of the units in the silsesquioxane resin should contain Si—OH groups. Higher amounts of these units can result in instability in the resin and the formation of gels. Typically 6 to 38 mole % of the units in the silsesquioxane resin contain Si—OH groups.

The silsesquioxane resin has a weight average molecular weight (Mw) in the range of 500 to 400,000 and preferably in the range of 500 to 100,000, alternatively 700 to 10,000.

Silsesquioxane resins useful herein may be exemplified by, but not limited to (PhSiO_(3/2))_(0.05-0.50)HSiO_(3/2))_(0.10-0.70)(MeSiO_(3/2))_(0.10-0.70) (PhSiO_(3/2))_(a)(HSiO_(3/2))_(b)(MeSiO_(3/2))_(c)(RSiO_(2/2)(OH))_(d)(RSiO(OH)₂)_(e) where R is selected form Ph, H and Me and 0.05≦a+d+e≦0.50, 0.10≦b+d+e≦0.70, 0.10≦c+d+e≦0.70, 0.06≦d+e≦0.4, and a+b+c+d+e≈1.

The silsesquioxane resins may be produced by methods known in the art. For example, the silsesquioxane resins may be produced by the hydrolysis and condensation of a mixture of a phenyl trialkoxysilane, hydrogen trialkoxysilane and methyl trialkoxysilane. Alternatively they may be produced by the hydrolysis and condensation of a phenyl trichlorosilane, hydrogen trichlorosilane and methyl trichlorosilane.

The silsesquioxane resin is typically produced in the presence of a solvent. Any suitable organic or silicone solvent that does not contain a functional group which may participate in the reaction may be used in producing the silsesquioxane resin. The solvent is generally used in an amount of 40 to 98 weight percent based on the total weight of solvent and silane reactants, alternatively 70 to 90 weight percent. The reaction may be carried out as a dual phase or single-phase system.

Useful organic solvents may be exemplified by, but not limited to, saturated aliphatics such as n-pentane, hexane, n-heptane, and isooctane; cycloaliphatics such as cyclopentane and cyclohexane; aromatics such as benzene, toluene, xylene, mesitylene; ethers such as tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, ethylene glycol dietheyl ether, ethylene glycol dimethyl ether; ketones such as methylisobutyl ketone (MIBK) and cyclohexanone; halogen substituted alkanes such as trichloroethane; halogenated aromatics such as bromobenzene and chlorobenzene; esters such as isobutyl isobutyrate and propyl propronate. Useful silicone solvents may be exemplified by, but not limited to cyclic siloxanes such as octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane, and decamethylcyclopentasiloxane. A single solvent may be used or a mixture of solvents may be used.

The reaction to produce the silsesquioxane resin can be carried out at any temperature so long as it does not cause significant gellation or cause curing of the silsesquioxane resin. Typically the reaction is carried out at a temperature in the range of 5° C. to 150° C., with ambient temperature suggested.

The time to form the silsesquioxane resin is dependent upon a number of factors such as the temperature, the type and amount of silane reactants, and the amount of catalyst, if present. Typically the reaction time is from several minutes to several hours. One skilled in the art will be able to readily determine the time necessary to complete the reaction.

Following completion of the reaction the catalyst may be optionally removed. Methods for removing the catalyst are well know in the art and would include neutralization, stripping or water washing or combinations thereof. The catalyst may negatively impact the shelf life of the silicone resin especially when in solution thus its removal is suggested.

In the process for making the silsesquioxane resin, after the reaction is complete, volatiles may be removed from the silsesquioxane resin solution under reduced pressure. Such volatiles include alcohol by-products, excess water, catalyst, hydrochloric acid (chlorosilane routes) and solvents. Methods for removing volatiles are known in the art and include, for example, distillation.

Following the reaction to produce the silsesquioxane resin a number of optional steps may be carried out to obtain the silsesquioxane resin in the desired form. For example, the silsesquioxane resin may be recovered in solid form by removing the solvent. The method of solvent removal is not critical and numerous methods are well known in the art (e.g. distillation under heat and/or vacuum). Once the silsesquioxane resin is recovered in a solid form, the resin can be optionally re-dissolved in the same or another solvent for a particular use. Alternatively, if a different solvent, other than the solvent used in the reaction, is desired for the final product, a solvent exchange may be done by adding a secondary solvent and removing the first solvent through distillation, for example. Additionally, the resin concentration in solvent can be adjusted by removing some of the solvent or adding additional amounts of solvent.

An ARC composition is produced by combining the silsesquioxane resin (i) with a solvent (ii). The ARC composition is then applied to an electronic device, the solvent is removed and the silsesquioxane resin is cured to produce the antireflective coating.

Typically the electronic device is a semiconductor device, such as silicon-based devices and gallium arsenide-based devices intended for use in the manufacture of a semiconductor component. Typically, the device comprises at least one semiconductive layer and a plurality of other layers comprising various conductive, semiconductive, or insulating materials.

The solvent useful herein may be the same or different from the solvent used in the production of the silsesquioxane resin. Useful solvents (ii) include, but are not limited to, 1-methoxy-2-propanol, propylene glycol monomethyl ethyl acetate (PGMEA) and cyclohexanone, among others. The ARC composition typically comprises from about 10% to about 99.9 wt % solvent based on the total weight of the ARC composition, alternatively 80 to 95 wt %.

The ARC composition can further comprise a cure catalyst. Suitable cure catalysts include inorganic acids, photo acid generators and thermal acid generators. Cure catalysts may be exemplified by, but not limited to sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄), (4-ethylthiophenyl)methyl phenyl sulfonium triflate and 2-Naphthyl diphenylsulfonium triflate. Typically a cure catalyst is present in an amount of up to 1000 ppm, alternatively 500 ppm, based on the total weight of the ARC composition.

Specific methods for application of the ARC composition to the electronic device include, but are not limited to, spin-coating, dip-coating, spay-coating, flow-coating, screen-printing and others. The preferred method for application is spin coating. Typically, coating involves spinning the electronic device, at about 2000 RPM, and adding the ARC composition to the surface of the spinning electronic device.

The solvent is removed and the silsesquioxane resin is cured to form the anti-reflective coating on the electronic device. The solvent may be removed by known methods such as heating or during application by spinning.

Curing generally comprises heating the coated electronic device to a sufficient temperature for a sufficient duration to lead to curing. For example, the coated electronic device can be heated at 80° C. to 450° C. for 0.1 to 60 minutes, alternatively 150° C. to 275° C. for of 0.5 to 5 minutes, alternatively 200° C. to 250° C. for 0.5 to 2 minutes. Any method of heating may be used during the curing step. For example, the coated electronic device may be placed in a quartz tube furnace, convection oven or allowed to stand on hot plates.

To protect the silsesquioxane resin from reactions with oxygen or carbon during curing, the curing step can be performed under an inert atmosphere. Inert atmospheres useful herein include, but are not limited to nitrogen and argon. By “inert” it is meant that the environment contain less than 50 ppm and preferably less than 10 ppm of oxygen. The pressure at which the curing and removal steps are carried out is not critical. The curing step is typically carried out at atmospheric pressure although sub or super atmospheric pressures may work also.

Once cured, the electronic device comprising the anti-reflective coating can be used in further substrate processing steps, such as photolithography. When used in photolithography, a resist image is formed over the anti-reflective coating. The process for forming the resist image comprises (a) forming a film of a resist composition on top of the anti-reflective coating; (b) imagewise exposing the resist film to radiation to produce an exposed film; and (c) developing the exposed film to produce an image. The anti-reflective coatings on the electronic device are particularly useful with resist compositions that are imagewise exposed to ultraviolet radiation having a wavelength of 157 nm to 365 nm, alternatively ultraviolet radiation having a wavelength of 157 nm or 193 nm. Once an image has been produced in the resist film, then a pattern is etched in the anti-reflective coating. Known etching materials may be used to remove the anti-reflective coating. Additional steps or removing the resist film and remaining anti-reflective coating may be employed to produce a device having the desired architecture.

The following examples are included to demonstrate preferred embodiments of the invention. It should be appreciated by those of skill in the art that the techniques disclosed in the examples which follow represent techniques discovered by the inventor to function well in the practice of the invention, and thus can be considered to constitute preferred modes for its practice. However, those of skill in the art should, in light of the present disclosure, appreciate that many changes can be made in the specific embodiments which are disclosed and still obtain a like or similar result without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

EXAMPLES Resin Synthesis Example 1 T^(Ph) _(0.25)T^(H) _(0.30)T^(Me) _(0.45)

A solution of 120 grams of PGMEA, 13.2 grams (0.0625 moles) of phenyltrichlorosilane, 10.16 grams (0.075 moles) of trichlorosilane, 16.82 g (0.1125 moles) of methyltrichlorosilane were transferred to the reactor under nitrogen. A solution of 200 grams of PGMEA and 10 grams (0.555 moles) of water was added to the solution of trichlorosilanes over a one-hour period. The reaction was allowed to body, stirring at 20° C. for one hour. The resin solution was then washed with 100 mL DI water and the water was discarded. Approximately 40 grams of ethanol was added to the resin solution. The solution was stripped to approximately 20 wt % of solid and then diluted to 10 wt % with PGMEA. The solution was filtered through a 0.20 micron PTFE filter and stored in a 250 mL HDPE bottle. Thickness=1876 Å, n=1.797, k=0.5625.

Example 2 T^(Ph) _(0.55)T^(H) _(0.35)T^(Me) _(0.10)

A solution of 120 grams of PGMEA, 29.09 grams (0.1375 moles) of phenyltrichlorosilane, 11.85 grams (0.0875 moles) of trichlorosilane, 3.74 g (0.025 moles) of methyltrichlorosilane were added to a reactor under nitrogen. A solution of 200 grams of PGMEA and 10 grams (0.555 moles) of water was added to the solution of trichlorosilanes over a one-hour period. The reaction was allowed to body, stirring at 20° C. for one hour. The resin solution was then washed with 100 mL DI water and the water was discarded. Approximately 40 grams of ethanol was added to the resin solution. The solution was stripped to approximately 20 wt % of solid and then diluted to 10 wt % with PGMEA. The solution was filtered through a 0.20 micron PTFE filter and stored in a 250 mL HDPE bottle. Thickness=2147 Å, n=1.887, k=0.769.

Example 3 T^(Ph) _(0.05)T^(H) _(0.35)T^(Me) _(0.60)

A solution of 120 grams of PGMEA, 2.64 grams (0.0125 moles) of phenyltrichlorosilane, 11.85 grams (0.0875 moles) of trichlorosilane, 22.42 g (0.15 moles) of methyltrichlorosilane were added to a reactor under nitrogen. A solution of 200 grams of PGMEA and 10 grams (0.555 moles) of water was added to the solution of trichlorosilanes over a one-hour period. The reaction was allowed to body, stirring at 20° C. for one hour. The resin solution was then washed with 100 mL DI water and the water was discarded. Approximately 40 grams of ethanol was added to the resin solution. The solution was stripped to approximately 20 wt % of solid and then diluted to 10 wt % with PGMEA. The solution was filtered through a 0.20 micron PTFE filter and stored in a 250 mL HDPE bottle. Thickness=2318 Å, n=1.612, k=0.093.

Example 4 T^(Ph) _(0.10)T^(H) _(0.10)T^(Me) _(0.60)

A solution of 120 grams of PGMEA, 5.29 grams (0.025 moles) of phenyltrichlorosilane, 10.16 grams (0.075 moles) of trichlorosilane, 22.42 g (0.15 moles) of methyltrichlorosilane were transferred to a reactor under nitrogen. A solution of 200 grams of PGMEA and 10 grams (0.555 moles) of water was added to the solution of trichlorosilanes over a one-hour period. The reaction was allowed to body, stirring at 20° C. for one hour. The resin solution was then washed with 100 mL DI water and the water was discarded. Approximately 40 grams of ethanol was added to the resin solution. The solution was stripped to approximately 20 wt % of solid and then diluted to 10 wt % with PGMEA. The solution was filtered through a 0.20 micron PTFE filter and stored in a 250 mL HDPE bottle. Thickness=1992 Å, n=1.680, k=0.208.

Example 5 T^(Ph) _(0.10)T^(H) _(0.60)T^(Me) _(0.30)

A solution of 120 grams of PGMEA, 5.29 grams (0.025 moles) of phenyltrichlorosilane, 20.32 grams (0.15 moles) of trichlorosilane, 11.21 g (0.075 moles) of methyltrichlorosilane were transferred to a reactor under nitrogen. A solution of 200 grams of PGMEA and 10 grams (0.555 moles) of water was added to the solution of trichlorosilanes over a one-hour period. The reaction was allowed to body, stirring at 20° C. for one hour. The resin solution was then washed with 100 mL DI water and the water was discarded. Approximately 40 grams of ethanol was added to the resin solution. The solution was stripped to approximately 20 wt % of solid and then diluted to 10 wt % with PGMEA. The solution was filtered through a 0.20 micron PTFE filter and stored in a 250 mL HDPE bottle. Thickness=1322 Å, n=1.630, k=0.198.

Example 6 T^(Ph) _(0.10)T^(H) _(0.70)T^(Me) _(0.20)

A solution of 120 grams of PGMEA, 5.29 grams (0.025 moles) of phenyltrichlorosilane, 23.70 grams (0.175 moles) of trichlorosilane, 7.47 g (0.05 moles) of methyltrichlorosilane were transferred to a reactor under nitrogen. A solution of 200 grams of PGMEA and 10 grams (0.555 moles) of water was added to the solution of trichlorosilanes over a one-hour period. The reaction was allowed to body, stirring at 20° C. for one hour. The resin solution was then washed with 100 mL DI water and the water was discarded. Approximately 40 grams of ethanol was added to the resin solution. The solution was stripped to approximately 20 wt % of solid and then diluted to 10 wt % with PGMEA. The solution was filtered through a 0.20 micron PTFE filter and stored in a 250 mL HDPE bottle. Thickness=2938 Å, n=1.610, k=0.202.

Example 7 T^(Ph) _(0.10)T^(H) _(0.35)T^(Me) _(0.55)

A solution of 120 grams of PGMEA, 5.29 grams (0.025 moles) of phenyltrichlorosilane, 11.85 grains (0.088 moles) of trichlorosilane, 20.55 g (0.138 moles) of methyltrichlorosilane were transferred to a reactor under nitrogen. A solution of 200 grams of PGMEA and 10 grams (0.555 moles) of water was added to the solution of trichlorosilanes over a one-hour period. The reaction was allowed to body, stirring at 20° C. for one hour. The resin solution was then washed with 100 mL DI water and the water was discarded. Approximately 40 grams of ethanol was added to the resin solution. The solution was stripped to approximately 20 wt % of solid and then diluted to 10 wt % with PGMEA. The solution was filtered through a 0.20 micron PTFE filter and stored in a 250 mL HDPE bottle. Thickness=2008 Å, n=1.610, k=0.202.

Example 8 T^(Ph) _(0.10)T^(H) _(0.45)T^(Me) _(0.45)

A solution of 120 grams of PGMEA, 5.29 grams (0.025 moles) of phenyltrichlorosilane, 15.24 grams (0.1125 moles) of trichlorosilane, 16.82 g (0.1125 moles) of methyltrichlorosilane were transferred to a reactor under nitrogen. A solution of 200 grams of PGMEA and 10 grams (0.555 moles) of water was added to the solution of trichlorosilanes over a one-hour period. The reaction was allowed to body, stirring at 20° C. for one hour. The resin solution was then washed with 100 mL DI water and the water was discarded. Approximately 40 grams of ethanol was added to the resin solution. The solution was stripped to approximately 20 wt % of solid and then diluted to 10 wt % with PGMEA. The solution was filtered through a 0.20 micron PTFE filter and stored in a 250 mL HDPE bottle. Thickness=1430 Å, n=1.630, k=0.198.

Application Examples Film Coating and Characterization

The film coating on wafers was processed on a Karl Suss CT62 spin coater. Solutions of resin in PGMEA were first filtered through a 0.2 micron PTFE filter and then spin coated onto standard single side four inch polished low resistivity wafers or double sided polished FTIR wafers (spin speed=2000 rpm; acceleration speed=5000, time=20 seconds). Films were cured at a temperature (200-250° C.) for 90 seconds as indicated in the tables using a rapid thermal processing (RTP) oven with a nitrogen gas purge. The film thickness, refractive index and k value were determined using a J. A. Woollam ellipsometer. The thickness values recorded were the average of nine measurements. PGMEA resistance of the film after cure was determined by measuring the film thickness change before and after PGMEA hold (one minute) and rinse (ΔTh¹ Å); tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) resistance after cure was determined by measuring the film thickness change before and after TMAH hold (one minute) and rinse (ΔTh² Å). Contact angle measurements using water and methylene iodide as liquids were used to calculate the critical surface tension of wetting using the Zisman approach. All of the cured films made from the above resins were completely stripped with two commercial wet stripping solution NE89 and CC1.

TABLE 1 shows the results PGMEA resistance and TMAH resistance for 4 different resins (App 1-4). Example App4 corresponds to the resin from Example 1.

TABLE 2 shows that the process for making the resin is reproducible. Example App 5 is a scale up of the resin made in Example App 4. As can be seen the MW and the performance are very close. Example App 5 after bake at 225° C. for 60 seconds had a water contact angle of 84.3 and a surface energy of 32.6. Example App 5 after bake at 250° C. for 60 seconds had a water contact angle of 86 and a surface energy of 32.6.

TABLE 3 shows the resin of Example 4 used as a hard mask.

TABLE 1 Application Examples 1-4. Bake Temp Th ΔTh¹ ΔTh² Example Resin ° C. (Å) (Å) (Å) App1 T^(Ph) _(0.10)T^(H) _(0.25)T^(Me) _(0.65) 250 1916 0 1916 10 App2 T^(Ph) _(0.10)T^(H) _(0.30)T^(Me) _(0.60) 250 1992 1 2017 25 App3 T^(Ph) _(0.25)T^(H) _(0.20)T^(Me) _(0.55) 225 1037 239 1038 13 250 1012 77 1023 5 App4 T^(Ph) _(0.25)T^(H) _(0.30)T^(Me) _(0.45) 225 1876 27 1851 29 250 1861 4 1860 5

TABLE 2 Application Examples 4 and 5 M_(w) vs. M_(w)/M_(n) Bake T Th ΔTh¹ ΔTh² Example PS vs PS ° C. (Å) (Å) (Å) App 4-1 5560 3.3 225 1876 27 App 4-2 225 1851 29 App 4-3 250 1861 4 App 4-4 250 1860 5 App 5-1 5710 3.2 225 2003 240 App 5-2 225 2000 21 App 5-3 250 1961 18 App 5-4 250 1974 25

TABLE 3 Application of resin Example 6. Bake T Th ΔTh¹ ΔTh² Water contact Surface Energy Example ° C. Å Å Å Angle (°) App 6-1 250 1992 1 93 29.9 App 6-1 250 2017 25 

What is claimed is:
 1. An antireflecting coating (ARC) composition comprising (i) a silsesquioxane resin having the formula (PhSiO_((3-x)/2)(OH)_(x))_(m)(HSiO_((3-x)/2)(OH)_(x))_(n)(MeSiO_((3-x)/2)(OH)_(x))_(p) where Ph is a phenyl group, Me is a methyl group, x has a value of 0, 1 or 2; m has a value of 0.05 to 0.50, n has a value of 0.10 to 0.70 and p has a value of 0.10 to 0.70, and m+n+p≈1; (ii) a solvent; wherein in the silsesquioxane resin 6 to 38 mol % of the units contain Si—OH groups.
 2. The composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the solvent (ii) is selected from 1-methoxy-2-propanol, propylene methyl ether acetate and cyclohexanone.
 3. The composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the composition contains 80 to 95 wt % of solvent, based on the weight of the composition.
 4. The composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the composition additionally contains a cure catalyst. 